European Cruises Leaving Miami

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What kind of cruise vacation do you need right now? Want to see a new destination every day while you march on the unpacking-repacking treadmill? Or, would you rather sleep in, do some reading and make spur-of-the-moment plans as you enjoy the sea air? If the first plan suits you, book a traditional cruise. If the second sounds tempting, look to the Atlantic. Miami is a popular departure point for transatlantic spring cruises to Europe. Most offer a couple of ports, but the emphasis is on no-pressure days filled with whatever you feel like doing at the moment. Isn't that what vacations should be about?

What to Expect on a Transatlantic Cruise

Only one cruise line makes regularly scheduled voyages across the Atlantic Ocean – Cunard – and its ships depart from New York rather than from Miami. The other transatlantic cruises are repositioning cruises out of Miami. Cruise ships tend to spend winters in the warm Caribbean and summers in the Mediterranean. In spring and fall the ships need to move from one sea to the other, which means that ride-along passengers take advantage of lower daily rates and a relaxing vacation they might not be able to get with the traditional cruise temptation of a new port every morning.

Passengers on long cruises often find themselves taking advantage of onboard spas and gym sessions. They catch up on books and sleep, reconnect with their partners and find it easy to take in more onboard entertainment. Choose your cruise based not simply on the ports it visits and where it ends, but on the kind of shipboard activities you want to experience.

You’ll also need to pack for two seasons. Cruise ships leave Miami in the spring, often in April. The first few days will see Miami’s springtime weather with highs in the low 80s and lows in the high 60s. But as the ship moves north to Europe, temperatures cool to European spring weather. Barcelona’s April weather, for example, has highs in the low 6os and overnight temperatures in the high 40s. If you love a nap in a deck chair, don’t worry. The ships keep toasty blankets ready. And, while it might be too cool for a dip in the outdoor pool, there are always hot tubs.

Cruise Ships From Miami to Europe

Norwegian Cruise Line's Jade sails from Miami to Southampton, England, on a 13-night voyage that makes stops in Portugal, the UK and France. The Norwegian Star sails 14 nights to Barcelona with stops in Portugal, Spain and France.

The Azamara Quest visits Bermuda before heading across the Atlantic. The 13-night voyage includes calls at Portuguese ports before tying up in Lisbon.

Celebrity sails on a 15-night cruise, stopping in Portugal and at two Irish ports before arriving in Dublin.

MSC Cruises offers an epic crossing. The MSC Divina takes three weeks to travel from Miami to Europe. Passengers can also choose to cruise in the Caribbean before stopping in Miami again and can choose to disembark at European spots, including ports in Portugal, Spain and France. The ship calls in New York and Bermuda before crossing the Atlantic.

The Disney Magic transatlantic crossing is in May, so the weather will be warm both aboard and upon arrival in Barcelona. It takes the ship 13 nights to cross from Miami to its stops in Portugal and Spain.

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About the Author

Johanna Read is a Canadian freelance writer and photographer specializing in travel, food, and responsible tourism. Writing for a variety of Canadian and international publications, she likes to encourage travel that is culturally, economically, and environmentally sustainable. Links to all her travel stories are at www.TravelEater.net. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEater and on Instagram @TravelEaterJohanna.

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